• Home
• The See Project
  • About
  • Objectives
  • Partnership
• Policy Innovation Design
• Project Outputs
  • SEE Library
  • Publications
  • Design Policy and Promotion Map
  • Events
  • Design Policy Monitor
• Contact Us
• Subscribe

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are collaborative programmes that enable companies to access the vast knowledge and expertise available within the National Centre for Product Design and Development Research (PDR), based in Cardiff, Wales/UK.

KTPs were introduced by the UK government in 2003 as the successor to the Teaching Company Scheme (TCS), which began in 1975. PDR have been running first the TCS and then KTPs since 1997, and the scheme is still ongoing. The main objective of the scheme is to enable companies (SMEs, charities and large organisations) to benefit from the knowledge, expertise and capabilities found within PDR. Each project has an associate (graduate student), who plays the leading role in the project execution, and a coordinator and supervisors, who are based at PDR. KTPs are part funded by the UK Department of Trade and Industry and the Welsh Assembly Government. Depending on the size of the organisation working with PDR, the total annual value of a project can be around £51,000, of which 67% is grant funded. Across the scheme as a whole, more than 1,000 KTPs have been completed to date, across all sectors. PDR has completed 21 KTPs and a further 14 are in progress.

KTPs are established between companies and higher education institutions, in this case PDR. In each KTP, a team is established to implement agreed changes to the company’s future plans. KTPs can run up to a maximum of 3 years. The objectives of every KTP are to:

                 facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology and the spread of technical and business skills

                 stimulate and enhance business relevant research and training undertaken by the knowledge base

                 provide company-based training for associates to enhance their business and specialist skills.

The project team (comprising the associate and the supervisors) meet at least monthly to discuss progress, agree targets and identify the resources required. The main control document for each project is the Project Gantt Chart, which is maintained and updated by the associate, in agreement with the project team. 

Each KTP brings a number of benefits to the clients involved, such as process design improvements, new product development, embedding of new design technologies and systems, adoption of best practice in design and innovation and development of a sound intellectual property portfolio. Companies report a range of tangible outcomes – an increase in overall turnover and sales performance, increased profitability, new product launches, new market penetration, improved competitiveness, enhancement of design and manufacturing processes. As far as the associates are concerned, the KTP can help to boost their career prospects, with a significant number finding employment in the companies concerned once the KTP has finished. For PDR, the KTPs have a practical use in forming the basis for the case studies and the publication of academic papers.

The key factor for the success of a KTP is the quality of the associate selected, and the communication and relationship established between the associate, company and PDR. The application lead-times can become an issue for the companies involved, as the process of establishing a KTP can take between 3 to 4 months. Within the application form, quantifiable measurements are included for each of the three parties; company, knowledge base and associate. These are revised and reviewed within the context of the final report. Each partnership is graded according to performance in line with the deliverables.

This national programme has proven to be very successful in helping companies achieve competitive advantage. Possible opportunities typically include developing a new idea into production; improving margins and reducing lead-times; integrating new design tools; investigating new materials and applications; and implementing rapid product development, testing and manufacturing technologies.

 


Examples of recent KTPs can be downloaded by clicking on the images below:

© Design Wales 2007
 

For further information about the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships run by PDR please contact Julie Stephens at PDR: jstephens-pdr@uwic.ac.uk or visit the PDR website: www.pdr-online.co.uk.


Download a pdf of this case study